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Trail markers blaze way for art exhibit on Wild Azalea Trail

he Wild Azalea Trail spans is the longest continuous trail in Louisiana. The WAT winds through the Kisatchie National Forest in Central Louisiana. It spans about 28 miles from Woodworth to Valentine Lake. Bolen, an artist and artistic director at River Oaks Square Arts Center and owner of Indian Cr

Trail markers blaze way for art exhibit on Wild Azalea Trail

Aubrey Bolen, artist and artistic director for River Oaks Square Arts Center and owner of the Indian Creek Studio, draws inspiration for art pieces from local area trails and for upcoming art exhibit in February 2018.
Melinda Martinez/The Town Talk

River Oaks Square Artistic director Aubrey Bolen has painted the different trail blazes, or trail markers, of the local trails. As a sticker fanatic himself, Bolen, said he thought others would like to collect the different colors of diamond-shaped trail blazes that mark the local hiking and cycling trails. And thatÕs when he decided to paint them. Funds generated from the sales will go towards funding his art show which opens in February 2018 at River Oaks. (Photo: Melinda Martinez)

“As a hiker, it’s something you are always looking for,” said Aubrey Bolen about the trail blazes marking hiking and cycling trails.

Bolen is an artist and the artistic director at River Oaks Square Arts Center in downtown Alexandria. He is also the owner of Indian Creek Studio in Woodworth and an avid hiker and backpacker who has through-hiked and backpacked local trails several times.

The blazes, said Bolen, are guide makers for people using the trails. He points to a yellow diamond-shaped trail blaze nailed to a tree denoting the Wild Azalea Trail.

The Wild Azalea Trail is the longest continuous trail in Louisiana. The WAT winds through the Kisatchie National Forest in Central Louisiana. It spans about 28 miles from Woodworth to Valentine Lake.

The yellow diamond-shaped blaze denotes the Wild Azalea Trail is the longest continuous trail in Louisiana. The WAT winds through the Kisatchie National Forest in Central Louisiana. It spans about 28 miles from Woodworth to Valentine Lake. River Oaks Square Artistic director Aubrey Bolen has turned the different trail blazes, or trail markers, of the local trails into art. (Photo: Melinda Martinez)

“So when I’m hiking, I’ll see all these blazes,” he said.

And as a hiker, ”You’re just always looking for them," said Bolen.

“That way you know you are going the right way.”

While he was hiking, Bolen got the idea that people would like to have the trail blazes “off the trail,” as well.

As a sticker fanatic himself, Bolen, said he thought others would like to collect the different colors of the diamond-shaped trail blazes that mark local hiking and cycling trails.

And that’s when he decided to paint them as works of art. These are being sold at the River Oaks Square Arts Center.

River Oaks Square Artistic director Aubrey Bolen has painted the different trail blazes, or trail markers, of the local trails. As a sticker fanatic himself, Bolen, said he thought others would like to collect the different colors of diamond-shaped trail blazes that mark the local hiking and cycling trails. And thatÕs when he decided to paint them. Funds generated from the sales will go towards funding his art show which opens in February 2018 at River Oaks. (Photo: Melinda Martinez)

The money generated from the sale of the blazes he painted will go towards funding his exhibit.

The red diamond-shaped blaze marks the Lakeshore Trail that starts near the Kincaid Lake East End Boat Launch off Messina Road.

“It’s a beautiful trail,” said Bolen. “It goes right by the lake.”

The Lakeshore Trail, added Bolen, is popular with trail runners.

“I keep painting more of those,” he said. “A lot of people like that trail. It is nice.”

The trail blaze for the Backbone Trail in the Red Dirt Management Area near Natchitoches is a circle with an arrow in the center.

River Oaks Square Artistic director Aubrey Bolen has painted the different trail blazes, or trail markers, of the local trails. Bolen is an avid hiker and backpacker who will have a show featuring art work of the Wild Azalea Trail. River Oaks Square Artistic director Aubrey Bolen has painted art work of the different trail blazes, or trail markers, of the local trails including the yellow diamond-shaped blaze denoting the Wild Azalea Trail. The WAT is the longest continuous trail in Louisiana and winds through the Kisatchie National Forest in Central Louisiana. It spans about 28 miles from Woodworth to Valentine Lake. (Photo: Melinda Martinez)

"On Trail" is Bolen's art show that will open in February 2018 at River Oaks with the Wild Azalea Trail as the focus of the show.

The exhibit will feature abstract landscape paintings of the areas where the Wild Azalea Trail meanders through.

River Oaks Square Artistic director Aubrey Bolen has painted the different trail blazes, or trail markers, of the local trails. As a sticker fanatic himself, Bolen, said he thought others would like to collect the different colors of diamond-shaped trail blazes that mark the local hiking and cycling trails. And thatÕs when he decided to paint them. Funds generated from the sales will go towards funding his art show which opens in February 2018 at River Oaks. (Photo: Melinda Martinez)

“I’ve been out there trying to find distinct features,” said Bolen, such as the pine forests, upland hardwoods, bogs, seeps and open natural areas.

“That’s what I wanted to capture with these recent works that I am working on for my show,” said Bolen.

"I've been out there trying to find distinct features," said River Oaks Square Artistic director Aubrey Bolen about the Wild Azalea Trail. Features include the pine forests, upland hardwoods, bogs, seeps and open natural areas. His work will also feature the way the light filters through the trees onto the trail. "That's what I wanted to capture with these recent works that I am working on for my show," said Bolen. His show will open in February 208 at the River Oaks Square Arts Center.(Photo: Melinda Martinez)